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Half-timbered houses on Place du Champ-Jacquet in Rennes

Rennes

Just 1 h 30 from Paris by TGV, Rennes is the gateway to Brittany and a buzzing city in its own right.

Photo: Erwan Corre, CC BY-SA 4.0
  • DepartmentIlle-et-Vilaine
  • From Paris~1 h 30 by TGV
  • AirportRennes (RNS)
  • Stay1–2 nights

Rennes is the capital of the Brittany region and its largest city. A huge fire in 1720 destroyed much of the centre, and the rebuilt city is a mix of elegant 18th-century stone squares and the timber-framed medieval streets that survived. With tens of thousands of students, it has a young, sociable feel and a strong music scene.

The historic centre

Wander from the Place du Champ-Jacquet, with its leaning timber houses, to the Place Sainte-Anne and the bar-lined Rue Saint-Michel, nicknamed "Rue de la Soif" (thirst street). The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre has a richly gilded interior, and the Portes Mordelaises are a rare surviving piece of the medieval walls.

The Parlement de Bretagne

The 17th-century Parlement de Bretagne was the seat of the Breton parliament and now houses the Court of Appeal. It was badly damaged by fire in 1994 and painstakingly restored; guided tours of its gilded chambers run through the tourist office.

Market, parks and museums

  • The Marché des Lices on Saturday mornings is one of the largest markets in France. Grab a galette-saucisse, the local sausage wrapped in a buckwheat galette.
  • The Parc du Thabor is a beautiful formal garden with a rose garden and greenhouses.
  • Les Champs Libres combines the Musée de Bretagne, a science centre and a library.
  • The Musée des Beaux-Arts has a strong collection including works from the Pont-Aven School.

Day trips from Rennes

The forest of Brocéliande is about 40 minutes west, the castles of Fougères and Vitré are under an hour east, and Saint-Malo and Mont-Saint-Michel are both around an hour away.

Stay in Rennes

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Top sights near Rennes

Brocéliande Forest
Inland Brittany

Brocéliande Forest

The legendary forest of King Arthur, Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, near Rennes.

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Château de Fougères
Eastern Brittany

Château de Fougères

One of Europe's largest medieval fortresses, guarding the old Breton frontier.

Read guide →

Header photo: Photo: Erwan Corre, CC BY-SA 4.0

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